Leno, Migden or Nation?
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| Also listed in: Courage Campaign Staff |
On Tuesday, June 3, voters in California's 3rd Senate District will make a decision that could significantly impact the future of Marin, San Francisco and Sonoma. And California.
The decision: which State Senate candidate is the most progressive choice for change -- Mark Leno, Carole Migden or Joe Nation?
The Courage Campaign does not endorse candidates for public office, but we are focused on making 2008 a new era for progressive politics in California. That means supporting progressive grassroots and netroots activists across the golden state, from San Diegans fighting to block Blackwater's base to San Franciscans preparing to protest the annual convention of health insurance executives on June 19.
The winner of Tuesday's primary election -- Leno, Migden or Nation -- will be in a position to lead in Sacramento on issues like guaranteeing universal health care in California. We hope that candidate will stand with patients, nurses and doctors on June 19 in San Francisco against the insurance companies and for single-payer health care.
Based on his steadfast opposition to single-payer health care, we know that Joe Nation will not show up in San Francisco on June 19 -- and we have serious concerns that he won't stand up for strong progressive policies in Sacramento, if he is elected to the State Senate.
(more over the flip)
During Joe Nation's tenure in the Assembly from 2000 to 2006, big business could reliably count on Nation to undermine his progressive colleagues. Corporate interests -- from drug and insurance industries to credit card companies -- found a friend in Joe Nation, filling his coffers with large contributions.
And those corporate contributions paid off. Just take a look at Nation's disappointing opposition to progressive legislation supported by Democrats:
* Voted against S.B. 840, Senator Sheila Kuehl's bill for affordable, quality, single-payer health care in California. Nation was one of only two Democrats in the Assembly to oppose Kuehl's bill.
* Voted against A.B. 103, a bill requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose gifts that benefited doctors and health care providers.
* Failed to support S.B. 773, Senator Jackie Speier's landmark bill to protect consumer privacy by requiring financial institutions to obtain permission before marketing a customer's personal information.
In 2006, term limits ended Nation's career in the Assembly. So Nation tried to unseat progressive Democratic Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey in the June primary election. Once again, corporate interests and conservative donors rallied to Nation's side. Progressive voters in Woolsey's district weren't fooled, defeating Nation and preventing him from taking his corporate agenda to Washington.
Now, Joe Nation is running for State Senate against Mark Leno and Carole Migden, fueled once again by corporate interests. According to the Sacramento Bee, independent expenditure committees representing the real estate, pharmaceutical and insurance industries have spent $340,000 on behalf of Nation this year.
With friends like these, whose side do you think Joe Nation will be on if he gets back to Sacramento?
The Courage Campaign doesn't endorse candidates, but we do think it's important -- in a district as progressive as this one -- that elected leaders stand up for progressive principles. On Tuesday, we hope voters choose the person they believe is the most progressive choice for change.
Thank you for making 2008 a new era for progressive politics in California.
Eden James
Managing Director
Courage Campaign
The decision: which State Senate candidate is the most progressive choice for change -- Mark Leno, Carole Migden or Joe Nation?
The Courage Campaign does not endorse candidates for public office, but we are focused on making 2008 a new era for progressive politics in California. That means supporting progressive grassroots and netroots activists across the golden state, from San Diegans fighting to block Blackwater's base to San Franciscans preparing to protest the annual convention of health insurance executives on June 19.
The winner of Tuesday's primary election -- Leno, Migden or Nation -- will be in a position to lead in Sacramento on issues like guaranteeing universal health care in California. We hope that candidate will stand with patients, nurses and doctors on June 19 in San Francisco against the insurance companies and for single-payer health care.
Based on his steadfast opposition to single-payer health care, we know that Joe Nation will not show up in San Francisco on June 19 -- and we have serious concerns that he won't stand up for strong progressive policies in Sacramento, if he is elected to the State Senate.
(more over the flip)
During Joe Nation's tenure in the Assembly from 2000 to 2006, big business could reliably count on Nation to undermine his progressive colleagues. Corporate interests -- from drug and insurance industries to credit card companies -- found a friend in Joe Nation, filling his coffers with large contributions.
And those corporate contributions paid off. Just take a look at Nation's disappointing opposition to progressive legislation supported by Democrats:
* Voted against S.B. 840, Senator Sheila Kuehl's bill for affordable, quality, single-payer health care in California. Nation was one of only two Democrats in the Assembly to oppose Kuehl's bill.
* Voted against A.B. 103, a bill requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose gifts that benefited doctors and health care providers.
* Failed to support S.B. 773, Senator Jackie Speier's landmark bill to protect consumer privacy by requiring financial institutions to obtain permission before marketing a customer's personal information.
In 2006, term limits ended Nation's career in the Assembly. So Nation tried to unseat progressive Democratic Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey in the June primary election. Once again, corporate interests and conservative donors rallied to Nation's side. Progressive voters in Woolsey's district weren't fooled, defeating Nation and preventing him from taking his corporate agenda to Washington.
Now, Joe Nation is running for State Senate against Mark Leno and Carole Migden, fueled once again by corporate interests. According to the Sacramento Bee, independent expenditure committees representing the real estate, pharmaceutical and insurance industries have spent $340,000 on behalf of Nation this year.
With friends like these, whose side do you think Joe Nation will be on if he gets back to Sacramento?
The Courage Campaign doesn't endorse candidates, but we do think it's important -- in a district as progressive as this one -- that elected leaders stand up for progressive principles. On Tuesday, we hope voters choose the person they believe is the most progressive choice for change.
Thank you for making 2008 a new era for progressive politics in California.
Eden James
Managing Director
Courage Campaign